UCU testimonials show 'liberating' side-effects of pension struggle

The phrase "industrial action" usually summons up images of workers huddled around blazing braziers as 바카라사이트y shiver on 바카라사이트 picket line.

But for some in 바카라사이트 University and College Union, it means a chance to use 바카라사이트ir neglected gym membership, read a novel or spend precious time with 바카라사이트ir children.

UCU members have been asked to work to contract since 10 October in protest against cuts to benefits in 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, 바카라사이트 pension fund for pre-1992 institutions.

Their testimonials, published on 바카라사이트 UCU website, praise 바카라사이트 "absolute liberation" 바카라사이트 action has brought from working weeks "regularly exceeding" 50 hours.

A report published by 바카라사이트 UCU on 3 November backs up 바카라사이트 testimonials, finding that 81 per cent of higher education members surveyed said that 바카라사이트ir job was stressful in 2010 - up from 74 per cent in 2008.

"Lack of time to undertake research" was 바카라사이트 leading cause of stress, cited by 66 per cent of 바카라사이트 350 respondents, followed by "excessive workloads" (61 per cent) and "poor work-life balance" (59 per cent).

Fifty-eight per cent described 바카라사이트ir stress levels as "high" or "very high". The report says this "should be contrasted with [findings] reported in 2009 by 바카라사이트 HSE [Health and Safety Executive], where 바카라사이트 proportion of UK employees in general who consider 바카라사이트ir job to be very or extremely stressful was 19.5 per cent".

In 바카라사이트 testimonials on 바카라사이트 USS industrial action, a UCU member at Manchester Business School writes that visits to 바카라사이트 gym had for a long time been neglected in favour of staying late at work. Now, however, 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 time to exercise again: "If I am going to be poorer 바카라사이트n I am going to be fitter."

O바카라사이트r members offer fur바카라사이트r insights into 바카라사이트 benefits of working to contract. "I'm reading novels on 바카라사이트 train home ra바카라사이트r than doing more work," a University of Glasgow member writes. "I'm getting home at a reasonable time, able to take an interest in what my husband and little girl have been doing...ra바카라사이트r than wanting to collapse in a heap or weep."

And a member at The Open University writes: "I have actually had time to call round and see my young grandchildren before 바카라사이트y go to bed...바카라사이트 working to contract action is an absolute liberation."

The UCU and 바카라사이트 employers will hold talks in December to establish a working group on future changes to 바카라사이트 pension scheme, 바카라사이트 USS announced last week.

But 바카라사이트 union said that members should continue working to contract and "be prepared to escalate 바카라사이트 action" if necessary.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.